Pyridinemethanol-carboxylate esters form octahedral complexes with Zn(NO3 )2 in aqueous DMF that subsequently undergo hydrolysis at elevated temperatures to form metal-carboxylate zwitterions. In situ deprotonation of the hydroxy group leads to thermally robust, neutral MOFs. This stepwise synthesis can be controlled by temperature and is made possible by the subtle difference in reactivity of the functional groups.
This month's cover is dedicated to the golden anniversary of Singapore by the collaborating groups of Wen-Hua Zhang of the IMRE, Singapore, and T. S. Andy Hor of the NUS, Singapore, and two more groups from Monash University, Malaysia, and Soochow University, P. R. China. In the cover picture the number "50" commemorates the 50th anniversary of Singapore, the Lion City. The photo on the top-right corner shows the modern skyline of Singapore. Underneath are the structures described in this article. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/cplu.201500134.